Firebird's dilemma

[Isis]

Astral Plane

Your witch, Spellbinder, she will return soon enough. When she and I were held captive together by Set, I saw something in her. She is a woman is driven by the need to be free…and to protect. We had a moment of understanding…once I shared my own past regarding you with her.


She’s in Limbo, which is her ultimate safe zone. Let her be. She’s a strong, resilient woman…I saw that much in her as well during our need to work together to liberate ourselves from Set’s captivity.


::Nicolas met her on the Astral Plane where they could speak beyond the reach of prying eyes, ears and most minds::

Killing medusa, assisting Spellbinder in her journey to confront Circe, was easier for you because you received your charge from Athena, Hecate and Demeter, AND because you and Spellbinder have reached a point where trust was restored. She allowed herself to trust you and when it was necessary, let you take the lead.


However, with MorningStar, there is nothing you can…or should do at this time. You do not have the same open path with her that you do Spellbinder. Some people cannot be helped….or more to the point, they do not WANT help. You must let them go their own way. You would do well to remember that and perhaps this is a sobering lesson for Spellbinder and Harbinger as well.


The loss of MorningStar’s baby, though it was necessary to save her life and will prove to be TEMPORARY, it is a blow that no woman could process or hope to bear in any timetable.


I observed her, even before the events of the Blue Moon, specifically during the events leading to the confrontation with Viper. I suspect that Malice may have been correct about her more than she or anyone else on your team would care to admit. Not only is she vastly different from Spellbinder and Harbinger, the differences have come to mean something BAD to more than one of them. This loss might as well have been an asteroid striking a planet shattering it with devastating effect.


No group can function while rifts and strife prevail, but at the same time, it is up to those who caused the rift to repair/close it.


It appears your MorningStar, Spellbinder and Harbinger are quite a ways from that.


For your sake, I hope that they will find resolution. Your team is vulnerable right now and while the truce between The Six and Sisterhood still stands, you and I both know that there are other issues…dangers out here.


I check on you because it is my duty, as I honor the covenant made with my goddess Isis, and because I’ve seen how much you care for these people, how it motivates you and allows you to carry on.


There is nothing I need from you at this time.

Just remember what I told you that night at Minerva's Mansion. Focus in on, and help those who will RECEIVE your help. Do not over extend yourself to those who do not need or WANT your help. And above all else...keep YOURSELF safe.

I expect for you to honor me, your mother and the goddess Isis, by doing your part to keep SET locked away in the hell I damned him to.

 

[Artemis]

Minerva's Aerie- drinks and insults

::Alycia simply looked upon Ava, unoffended by what initially appeared to be the goddess brushing her off. Cameron, who was already in rare form, not only broached the lingering issue between Ava and Alycia, he turned it on it’s EAR. Alycia’s hazel eyes widened and flashed with a glint of surprise and amusement as he even confessed he’d fantasized about killing ALL of them at one point or another.::


I suppose, that’s one of the more perverse but consistent things about this group. Love, loyalty, violence and dysfunction were all “key components” of the dynamic.


::By the time Alycia had finally managed to bring down Stavros Cassadine, she’d been gripped by rage and a desire for vengeance over Sharon Kelly’s death at the hands of Master Mold. When she uncovered Black Widow’s link to Stavros, it nearly pushed her over the edge.::


::At one point, after she had finally taken Stavros down, she was asked, how many lives would she destroy in order to seek revenge…and it gave her pause. Later that evening, Stavros appeared in her office and confronted her…when he attacked her, she defended herself, sending him out of the window and falling 99 floors down to his death.
Was it self defense? Or was there more than a little RELIEF for that she had a convenient EXCUSE for what she’d done?::

:: She certainly wasn’t the FIRST person in this group to have murdered someone for “various” reasons. But at this very moment, Cameron just blew away any of the “haunting” factor about that situation.::


::Alycia leaned back, stretching and running her hands through her raven locks as Ava delivered a slurred, backhanded “compliment”::

"If you would have let me FINISH [even though Ava hadn't actually said anything ] I was going to point out that Alycia looks rather good! I mean....honestly Alycia, before you became an Amazon you just looked OLD. [Ava emphasized the OLD] Now, it's like you're a whole new woman. No wonder Cameron wants to fuck you like a rabbit."

Glancing over at Cameron.

"What? I'd fuck her too if I didn't have standards!"

::Alycia couldn’t help but exclaim with mocking laughter. Michael whispered to her and she looked over at him::

I don't know WHAT you're talking about!?

::Rolling her eyes and smirking at his mischievious little comments as she playfully nudged him away::

WELL!


:: she said in a faux offended tone as she tossed her hair with a haughty effect::


If I ever need beauty tips on how to look not a day over 500, I’ll be sure to consult the woman who’s well past 5000! You’ve held up better than the wax figures at Madame Tussaud’s! So here’s to being OLDER THAN GOD, but only LOOKING about as old as Noah’s Arc?


::She winks and blows a kiss at Ava before taking the bottle from Michael again and having another big gulp. Ava then went on to comment on Cameron’s not so subtle overtures to Alycia…::

Aww Ava…truly you flatter me. Even though the idea of a 10,000 year old vagina, that’s probably swallowed more men, women and ships at sea than the Bermuda triangle, anywhere near me is enough to make me want to hurl myself through the siege perilous…


:: She says with feigned “emotion” while fanning her face::

Oh and don’t worry about lack of standards. I’m sure no one really expects you to have them. After all, they weren’t invented in “YOUR day”…neither was anything ELSE associated with modern, CIVILIZED society.

:: Michael and Cameron were roaring with laughter, while Alison seemed to be more interested in primping in a compact that she just teleblinked into her hand::


::Alycia was feeling as smoooooth as the vodka she’d been drinking and no one, not even AVA was going to spoil that moment. For her, it was just a good ol fashion round of give and take!::

"I think that sounds delightful! I think I will take a shower and meet you all for dinner!"

Taking a step forward, her legs gave out a bit and she stumbled right in ALYCIA. Grabbing ahold of the Amazon, she chuckled.

:: Alycia had just let her head fall back when suddenly a shadow cast over her. Ava was stumbling right INTO her. Her reflexes kicked in and she immediately sat up, holding her arms out to catch/steady the goddess.::

Careful there, goddess. Looks like your plant-like physiology is failing you.

::Smirking a bit::

"Whoopsie! At least I wasn't near a WINDOW!"

She cracked, obviously a joke in reference to her father's untimely demise by the hands of Alycia. Holding onto the Amazon, it was a rare sight indeed.

::It couldn’t have been a more surreal moment if it’d been PLANNED. Everyone just looked at the pair for a brief moment and Alycia, herself looked up to the sky for a moment::


No, but right now I think gravity and the GROUND are your biggest enemies, lightweight.

"I do have to thank your people for what they did for me. Amazon's are a-okay in my book."

A cryptic "thanks", and one no one would understand. Ava wouldn't have even said anything had she been in the right state of mind. She patted Alycia on the shoulder and finally moved away from the amazon.

::This caused Alycia to sober up just a bit and look a little more serious as she narrowed her hazel eyes::

….

what is THAT supposed to….??

"I think walking has become a dangerous sport! I will teleport! Until later!"

Ava waved her arm haphazardly and disappeared in a tornado of winds.

:: Alycia’s raven locks whipped up and over her face from the winds as she turned her head. MICHAEL fell to the ground! Alison almost knocked Cameron over as she collided with him. ::

….Isn’t it a bad idea to eat AFTER you’ve been drinking??

::the only thing she could think to ask in that slightly WINDED moment…::

 

[Shadow Weaver]

Melrose Place- Cass' apartment

Dear Hecate....if she doesn't sound like HALEIGH just now...

<< Sharon exhales with annoyance>>

<< Karen and Sharon both looked upon Cass as she responded. Sharon nodded with disapproval, while Karen sighed>>

My dear child, we are talking to YOU right now. No one else is in this apartment and no one else is the subject of this conversation.

And for the record, if you understand that the Six has been around for sometime now and you understand my connection and involvement to them, do you NOT think I've similar talks with more than one of them time and again?

Like it or not, you ARE the "new girl" and as such, you WILL have to pay your dues. That is something ALL of us have had to go through in some way at one time or another. That doesnt mean you'll be ABUSED or that you should expect to be. But you'll only get BACK what you put out!

BUT if you keep talking as though you're LOOKING for a fight with somebody, you'll end up FINDING one and you WON'T be able to ask for the "danger room program to STOP" because it'll be REAL.

Cass, listen to me. I have watched this group from near the beginning. I have seen these people at their absolute worst, my daughter and her sister included. DESPITE what is going on now, this unfortunate fallout between Delilah, Alison and Morgan...the girls and the group as a WHOLE are handling themselves rather WELL compared to past experiences.

You have to stop thinking in terms of "Me vs. Them". Not only is maladaptive, but there simply isn't TIME for this foolishness. If Morgan did not want you here, it wouldnt matter if Ella or anyone ELSE had interceded on your behalf, you would NOT be here.

and you can no more expect US to control HER than THEY can expect us to control YOU.

This REFLEX that you have to point figures at everyone else for some transgression, real OR imagined, EVERYTIME is a sign of your unwillingness to look within.

Cass, I have said this to my daughter, alison, haleigh, nicolas...most recently DELILAH...ALL of them, at one time or another: acceptance and respect starts from WITHIN.

ACCEPT who you are and your reality. Understand that you can ONLY control YOURSELF, no one else. RESPECT yourself and carry yourself accordingly and those on the outside will respect you.

Sharon is correct.

Now more than ever, with this fallout, that shows no signs of being anywhere close to resolution, The Six's frontline and overall stability is vulnerable. You have the chance to show them that you can be trusted and that you're not some difficult, brooding girl with a chip on her shoulder.

I was like you once...shortly after my return to this world as the Silver Swan by the machinations of Mystech. I did not adjust well. The memories of my former life had become a source of resentment & bitterness and i lashed out at the very people who'd been so kind and loyal to me, show treated me with respect and regarded me as a FRIEND. I hurt several of them. In a moment of clarity, after stopping Black Widow from harming anyone while she was suffering from the effects of the T Virus, I realized I was not at all who i was supposed to be and that I didnt know what that was. I needed more time and so I departed. Rather than waste more time or cause more pain and negativity, I left and did not return until I was fit to do so.

I...WE are trying to help you avoid the pitfalls and wasted time. These are uncertain times and this is not highschool...this is LIFE. You either adapt or you get CRUSHED

Listen, there's a gathering at Minerva's Mansion in just a little while and you're invited to come. It'll do you some good and there are people there who'd like to see you. You can make the trip with us in just a little while. It's only a "doorway" away.

<< Karen smiled>>

But I want you to t hink about what we've discussed today and I want you to continue to work on yourself. I already have one person being rather difficult and needlessly so. I am many things...but TOLERANT of petulant behavior is NOT one of them.

Every effort is being made to help you, the least you can do is take some initiative.

 

[Rampage]

It was listening time.

Nicolas heard Isis loud and clear and she validated his feeling that the best thing he could do was try to stay steady and keep things even keel. Delilah had enough people talking over her. She did not need another. He nodded as she spoke.

There is nothing I need from you at this time.

Just remember what I told you that night at Minerva's Mansion. Focus in on, and help those who will RECEIVE your help. Do not over extend yourself to those who do not need or WANT your help. And above all else...keep YOURSELF safe.

I expect for you to honor me, your mother and the goddess Isis, by doing your part to keep SET locked away in the hell I damned him to.

Will do Aunt D. It was good to see you and, THANKS so much.

Nicolas' form reached out and embraced Isis. Dominique would return to her body to find her holding herself, the warm of the psionic demi-god leaving an impression on her psyche that is felt on her physical form. It would be an example of his extreme strength on the astral plane and of his care for her.

Nicolas returned to the apartment where he could hear...crying? - and the water running in the bathroom. He approached the door as Blaze exited. Her level of agitation was impossible to mask from him.

Blaze. What happened? What is the matter?

 

[Firebird]

Melrose Place- Morgan's

She opened the door, sniffling a bit as she dabbed her eyes with a tissue. She'd already rinsed her face and dried it with a towel, but Nicolas, ever perceptive, could see that she'd obviously been upset.

She shook her head and shrug her shoulders as she moved past him, down the hall and out into the main areas of Morgan's apartment.

Nicolas followed her. His facial expression said it all. He wasn't going anywhere until he knew what was wrong. The fire elemental was not going to try to HIDE anything, but she also wasn't going to be explicit with every detail either. She concealed what was in her heart and mind...that final descision she'd made after her encounter with...

"Delilah."

She said rather flatly.

"I...I just had to see for myself. Satisfy my curiosity about whether or not there was any REAL resemblance between my Delilah and this one."

She remains turned away from Nicolas, her arms now wrapped around her own slender form as she struggles for a moment.

"Oh Nic...do any of them CARE? Do they know what this means not just for them...but for ALL of US?"


"In my timeline...we learned that no matter WHAT...we were all each other had. We didnt let ANYTHING tear us apart...until that night Morgan, Alison and Delilah fell apart...over BISHOP and his trying to murder Sharon."

"I've seen some bad things happen here with this Six. I've been apart of it, gone through it with you all...but NOTHING could be as bad as what I survived in my own timeline...there were so few of us LEFT!"


Sighing

"Where's the sense of family here? Where's the knowledge and certainty that no matter WHAT...we are all each other has?"

Turning to face Nicolas. She looked at him and locked her apple green eyes onto his deep brown eyes. Not wavering as she told him just how she felt.

"Nic...I think I was wrong to come here. I think I made a mistake."

But what she DIDN'T tell him. What she dare not let SLIP from her mental defense is that she was going to FIX this mistake. If there nothing ELSE she could fix...THAT was certainly the one thing she COULD. Even now...she knew how she was going to do it.

 

[Rampage]

"Delilah."

She said rather flatly.

"I...I just had to see for myself. Satisfy my curiosity about whether or not there was any REAL resemblance between my Delilah and this one."

She remains turned away from Nicolas, her arms now wrapped around her own slender form as she struggles for a moment.

"Oh Nic...do any of them CARE? Do they know what this means not just for them...but for ALL of US?"


"In my timeline...we learned that no matter WHAT...we were all each other had. We didnt let ANYTHING tear us apart...until that night Morgan, Alison and Delilah fell apart...over BISHOP and his trying to murder Sharon."

"I've seen some bad things happen here with this Six. I've been apart of it, gone through it with you all...but NOTHING could be as bad as what I survived in my own timeline...there were so few of us LEFT!"


Sighing

"Where's the sense of family here? Where's the knowledge and certainty that no matter WHAT...we are all each other has?"

Nicolas listened as she vented. When she got to this last point however, he hoped he could give her SOMETHING to think about.

Red, we cannot act as if that dynamic is the only one that exists within the Six. We do not cease to be a unit over this one situation any more than a body dies because one limb is ailing. I believe that in time things will improve, albeit slowly. In the meantime there are plenty of people who are here for you and each other.

He doubted it helped at all as she just looked seeming INTO him.

Turning to face Nicolas. She looked at him and locked her apple green eyes onto his deep brown eyes. Not wavering as she told him just how she felt.

"Nic...I think I was wrong to come here. I think I made a mistake."

I disagree. You have become a very valuable member of our family. And while things are tough NOW, it won't last Red. It never does. Not FOREVER. We cannot ask Delilah to be patient in seeing her own child and then be impatient in expecting her and Alison and Morgan to reconcile.

He touched her face as he spoke; he hoped she would think about what he had to say. But now, he wanted to TRY to cheer her up. AGAIN. He smiled at her and kissed her forehead.

C'mon Red. Let's go have some fun. Spend my money! Drive my car! Model some clothes for me! Dance with me in public to no music at all so the paparazzi can go nuts and the tabloids can get sued later on by my very well-paid lawyers! Objectify me! Hell, Sally forgot to today and I feel a bit off because of that strangely enough.

He winked at the pretty redhead, finally coaxing the slightest smile.

Pretty Please?

 

[Firebird]

Melrose Place- Apartment 4

I disagree. You have become a very valuable member of our family. And while things are tough NOW, it won't last Red. It never does. Not FOREVER. We cannot ask Delilah to be patient in seeing her own child and then be impatient in expecting her and Alison and Morgan to reconcile.

The fire elemental felt a pang of guilt in her heavy heart. Unlike Morgan, Alison or even Delilah, all of whom were strongly convinced of and set in their ways, Blaze Victory had always been able to see things from a more inclusive point a view or display strong intuition and empathy for others in situations, helping everyone to find common ground or bridge the gap. Delilah herself had assumed Blaze had come to see her to try to "smooth things over". She and Cameron were the HEART and emotional core of THEIR Six in her timeline. She had the rare status of being the one member of the group that was NEVER on the outs with anyone else in the group at anytime. No one ever seemed to have an issue with her.

And so she just carried the assumption that it would be the same for her in this timeline. This timeline's Delilah was a sobering wake-up call on THAT, and it hurt Blaze.

And what about FIREBIRD'S cross time alternate, FOXFIRE? Wasn't SHE the same in THIS timeline? Didn't SHE occupy the same crucial role for The Six? THIS Cameron seemed to be a stronger, more effective version than HER'S and HE was pretty good...until the Sentinels destroyed him. But where WAS Foxfire in all of this? What did she do? and what happened to her?

WHY WAS IT that THIS SIX seemed so enamored with FIREBIRD and how "much more glamorous and powerful she was than Foxfire". Was Delilah's uncreceptive response to Firebird just an indication of how ineffective Foxfire was at appealing to the hearts of her teammates!?

Blaze's mind AND heart began to reel with feelings, questions and concerns. Nicolas could pick up on some of it, but she still kept ONE THING guarded and concealed.

All of these things...as much as she would LIKE to make sense of them...ultimately pointed to one thing. She knew she was wrong. SELFISH even.

How could she expect anything of this Delilah or even Morgan. SHE had left her own timeline, her surviving family a family that had prooven even in their darkest hour as long as even a handful of them remained...there was hope. And she LEFT them.



Nicolas said she'd become apart of this family, but had she really? She left HER family, chasing after her cross-time alternate sister, only to lose her again. She suddenly realized just how out of place she was here...how wrong she'd been.

She broke eye contact with Nicolas, looking down and shutting her eyes tightly as she struggles to hold back tears

What have i done!? How could I have made such a stupid mistake! I should have just said GOODBYE and stayed with MY family, people who CARE and who VALUE each other. Maybe I leaped into that disc to follow this Morgan and Six because I....I'm a SELFISH and judgemental as so many of them in THIS group are. I'm HORRIBLE!

He touched her face as he spoke; he hoped she would think about what he had to say. But now, he wanted to TRY to cheer her up. AGAIN. He smiled at her and kissed her forehead.

C'mon Red. Let's go have some fun. Spend my money! Drive my car! Model some clothes for me! Dance with me in public to no music at all so the paparazzi can go nuts and the tabloids can get sued later on by my very well-paid lawyers! Objectify me! Hell, Sally forgot to today and I feel a bit off because of that strangely enough.

He winked at the pretty redhead, finally coaxing the slightest smile.

Pretty Please?

His gentle touch, his sincere urging. She NEVER got to develop this kind of bond with HER Nicolas...

<<FLASH!>>

<< a view of the dystopian time line Firebird came from. A dark, post apocolyptic NYC. A world where MYSTECH and the United States Federal Gov't MERGED to form the perfect NIGHTMARE STORM for mutants in the U.S. and then across the world!>>

<< Sentinels and other mechanical technology rule the land, potrolling the streets and shining their flood lights around.>>

<< A spotlight shines on A LARGE POSTER that is plastered on one of the outside brick walls of the medical office that was the facade over the secret passage to the Citadle. A poster commissioned by MYSTECH with the phrase across the top border of it that reads "WORKING FOR YOU!">>

<< The poster features headshots of mutants/metahumans either slain, captured or still at large.>>

"...Nicolas"


<<FLASH!>>

<< RAPID FIRE MONTAGE IMAGE OF: SLAIN: TEMPEST, PROPHET, KAREN VICTORIA, MICHAEL ARMSTRONG, VIVICA LENNOX, BANE, FROST, ZACHARY ARMANI; CAPTURED: BLACK WIDOW, ALYCIA BARNETT, HARBINGER, PERSEPHONE, RAMPAGE; WANTED, DEAD OR ALIVE: FIREBIRD, SILVER SWAN, SPELLBINDER>>

<< ZOOM DOWN away from the poster and the view swings 90 degrees, now looking down the street that the Medical Office sits on. A tall, fit and feminine form emerges from the shadows. a POWERFUL pulsating flash of LIGHT emmits FROM the woman, revealing herself to be THE JUSTICER Delilah Trelevan a.k.a. the beautiful MorningStar! At her side, held in check by a chain and spiked collar that coordinated with his unholy "costume" was NICOLAS KING a.k.a Rampage, who had been captured, tortured, brutalized, twisted, programmed, turned into a PSYCHIC HOUND, one of the most deadly weapons in Mystech's mutant hunting arsenal.>>

<< Psychic hounds were mutant pyshics that possessed high levels of psionic power and durability that would allow them to survive the transformation process. Their psi powers allowed them to track the unique psi signature of nearly any mutant, save those who were psi screened, but in that rare event, the hounds had other methods. in this timeline's Nicolas' case, he used his TK as a sort of SONAR, that, combined with the images of the psi screened witches that were still in his mind, allowed him to find them.>>

<< The Justicer, Mystech's most powerful enforcer, took Rampage as her psychic hound and together, they hunted down and destroyed MANY of their former friends, teammates and allies. Only Silver Swan, Black Widow and Firebird were able to oppose them long enough to escape. It wasnt until the Mainstreams arrived, along with Alycia Barnett a.k.a. Omega Sentinel, coming online and unleashing VIOLENT retribution on Mystech from the INSIDE, that they were able CHECK The Justicer and the psychic hound and finally FREE THEM of the toxic, invasive programming and brainwashing that had enslaved them! But even with their new found FREEDOM from their horrible forms, Delilah and Nicolas were now faced with long, HARD roads of recovery...FOREVER cursed to be haunted by the memory of what they had become, what they had DONE, the blood forever on their hands, even if it was all brought about by a sequence of events that was not their fault. >>

Firebird was there the moment mainstream Spellbinder liberated The Justicer...MORNINGSTAR and when mainstream Rampage liberated his alternate self. She saw their crestfallen looks when they realized that they were THEMSELVES again and what they had done when they were NOT themselves. She realizes now she's NO BETTER than THIS timeline's Morgan, Alison & Delilah for running out on HER family and it makes her heart...HURT.

"Nic...I...I didnt get to have the kind of bond with MY Nicolas that I've formed with you in the relevatively short time I've been here. He was taken from us soon after he came to us. I guess for me...YOU have the same effect on ME that I seem to have on everybody else here when it comes to this whole Firebird vs Foxfire thing that they keep talking about. "


"Nic...no matter what...I want you to know that I love you for who you are. Your courage and stability matches your strength. This team is gonna need that.

You're good to Morgan and when you messed up...you worked to find your way back and EARN her icy heart. Not many men could or would even TRY....goddess knows that Morgan, Karen & me had a shitty father / husband (for Karen) & that petty much RUINED our view on most men. But there are some wonderful things about this timeline....you and Cameron...especially."


Without hesitation, she LAUNCHES herself into an embrace with him. He might have forgotten that Firebird is also physically stronger than Foxfire, so her sudden, unhesitant movement causes him to stumble a bit as she holds on to him tightly.

"You were the first one to realize that I arrived here via stepping disc on Aerie, and you welcomed me without question OR judgement. It's just the sort of thing *I* would have done and I don't care HOW you look when you show your daddy's heritage in you, you don't scare ME!"


But now in her heart of hearts...she knew she had to leave. Nicolas could sense there was something BEHIND this genuine outpouring, but again, he'd find that Firebird was actively CONCEALING something. Maybe it was her anxiety? He could only guess, but SHE knew the truth.


She lets go, sniffling a bit as she dabs her eyes with her tissue. She smiles at Nicolas and his offer to do whatever she wanted. If this was another time...if she was going to...well nevermind. It just wasn't meant to be.


"Alison wants us to come to Minerva's Aerie tonight. Let's just skip going out and go there tonight, okay? I'd feel better being with everybody..."

ALMOST everybody...

...knowing Delilah wouldnt be there and even if she WANTED to be, Alison wouldnt let her and of course MORGAN was not even on the planet!

"...But before we meet up to go there, I need some time. There's something I have to take care of..."


Her mind's eye had already fixated on the image of an object, a special object of immense power and capability. Nicolas wasnt aware of it, but Harbinger had allowed Firebird to borrow the Seige Perilous to use it for one of its more benign functions- to view herself through the smooth faced, pure ruby gem and see prominent facets of herself from various timelines and their their ultimate fate would be. But NOW she had other ideas.

Tonight's the night. While everyone is at Minerva's Aerie...

 

[Rampage]

Firebird nearly knocks him over with a full on leap into his arms. Stumbling back, Nicolas chuckles as he regains his balance and holds the pretty mutant. She thanks him for his support and contrasts him with his enslaved alternate dimensional counterpart. She notes himself and Cameron as great things about this timeline.

But something is off and Nicolas knows it. He does not know what because she is hiding it. There is no way to get at it without harming her mentally because of her training and so he does not try. But the demigod is not fooled. Something was going on behind those green eyes.

"Alison wants us to come to Minerva's Aerie tonight. Let's just skip going out and go there tonight, okay? I'd feel better being with everybody..."

ALMOST everybody...

...knowing Delilah wouldnt be there and even if she WANTED to be, Alison wouldnt let her and of course MORGAN was not even on the planet!

"...But before we meet up to go there, I need some time. There's something I have to take care of..."

Very well Red. Go do your wardrobe change and I will freshen up so we can be off. Chop chop!

Nicolas gives her a playful pop to the bottom and then teleports away before she can get him back, licking out his tongue as he departs...

...arriving in his own apartment. His smile faded as he realized that something was going on.

Isis: Focus in on, and help those who will RECEIVE your help.

Nicolas nodded his head as he decided what he needed to do. There was someone who could give him the information he needed to help Blaze. And while he had given her some space and time to herself, he was going to see her anyway very soon. May as well get there early and talk to Alison, the Seer, before dinner.

Nicolas changed quickly and teleported himself to Aerie. He had a sorceress to see.